September 14, 2007

Wow it's been a while since I updated this section. I guess I've been busy :)

Harry just turned 6 weeks yesterday. I can't believe how fast time goes. He is getting bigger each day, literally. At his last weigh-in he was 10 lbs 4 oz. When we brought him home he was 6 lbs 11 oz so that's quite a gain. It makes me happy because one of my big fears (besides birth) was breastfeeding and if I'd be able to do it. Everything is going great with that. He has absolutely no issues with eating.

Around 3 weeks of age Harry started getting a read patchy rash on his face. It started on his cheeks and I was told by my doctor (without seeing him in person) that it was infant acne and would go away. After another week of the rash (which was no spreading) I decided to take him in for a check up. Dr. Bowman agreed that it was NOT acne (well, there were a few little specs of acne, but the rash was something different). Now it was on his scalp, ears, nose, chin, shoulders, back and chest. It was dry (like sand paper) and tiny pinpoint dots. The doc didn't know what it was, actually. This left me angry and more confused. It kept spreading. I called a doctor in Cedar City, Dr. Miller, who is a licensed pediatrician. We drove 4 hours round trip to take Hars. She immediately diagnosed it as Seborrheic Dermatitis. It's the same thing that causes cradle cap on some babies heads. Unfortunately for Harry, it's on his body! She recommended 1% hydrocortisone 2x a day for a week. I have used it 2 days now and see a BIG improvement. She couldn't say at this time if it was caused by allergies, or herditary (steve has bad eczema) or if it would simply go away as many infant rashes do. I really hope that happens! We are holding out hope. Regardless, Harry is a happy baby and the rash doesn't seem to affect him at all!

I am approaching my first post partum doctor appointment. I feel really great. I have started working out agai and only have 3 more pounds to go until I'm back to my normal weight. My scar has healed pretty well and I still have some numbness where the incision is but it's not too bad. I still have occassional irritation there as well and that just means I have to take it easy and scale back a bit. I must say all in all I did better w/ recovery than I thought I would.

We are all doing great. I miss my family like crazy. Mom and dad are coming in 2 weeks and I'm really excited. I can't wait for them to meet Hars.

Some really cool things with Harry lately is that he is starting to develop a personality. He smiles a lot and LOVES baby einstein. He flails his arms and legs and laughs when he is watching this show. It's so cute. He is a very alert and sturdy kid. He already holds his head up and loves to sit upright on dad's lap.

July 31, 2007

So I'm freaking out a bit because today the doctor and I discussed inducing me to have my son born this week. Since I developed gestational diabetes, he did not want me to go over 40 weeks (which I have) due to complications and an abnormally large baby (I was 9 lbs 14 oz!!!) We decided to go for this THURSDAY, August 2. I will be going in at 8 AM and he is going to break my water to see if that starts labor. I am already dilated to almost 5 cm (half way!!) so I am hoping things go quick (but I heard that really means nothing and I could have just as long and hard labor as anyone!)

Wish me luck. I'm very very very very nervous. VERY!!!!!

July 20, 2007

I had a dr. appointment on Tuesday (July 17) and I'm now 3 cm. dilated and 50% effaced! yay! My next appointment is on Monday and Dr. B says he can strip my membranes (basically separate your bag of water from the cervix) which is supposed to bring on contractions. I'm still on the fence if I want to do this. I told myself in the beginning that I did not want any medical intervention with the birth of my son (no induction, no epidural, etc) but I'm getting so anxious that I just might do it! It only will take him a few seconds. But there's no guarantee... it only brings on labor in 70% of women.. not bad odds though!

I've been having contractions on and off for days now. Baby W is very very active. It's hard to sleep because he is constantly rolling around. His head is engaged (dr. said it is "right there... and he can feel that it is engaged). Any day now!! Yeh!!

July 3, 2007

Things are really moving along now. I'm 36 weeks today and my doctor appointments are every week until I deliver. I'm really getting nervous, to be quite honest. Over the weekend I had a few moments were I was completely freaked out over the whole thing. I guess everyone goes through this... "will I be able to do this? what will it feel like? how will I get through it? Once he's here.. then what?" At my dr. appointment today the dr. said I am still 2cm dilated and 50% effaced. (10 cm and 100% effaced basically means it's time to push). The fact that I'm dilating and effacing means that I'm already in "pre-labor." I hate not having control. I hate not knowing when it's all gonna go down. It's really quite terrifying. The dr. seems to think it will be soon.. maybe not today.. or tomorrow.. but sometime in July and in the next week or two. Stay tuned!

June 26, 2007

I had my 35 week dr. appointment today and to my surprise found out that I'm 2 cm dilated! My dr. said that really don't mean "too" much. I could stay here for a few weeks. There's really no way of knowing. I guess I will stick to hikes and such close by home from now on. I don't really want to give birth in the middle of the desert :) Also, my blood sugar looked great today and I found out the baby is heads down! Yeh! Good news all around!

June 5, 2007

Happy birthday Steve!

On a side "baby" note... I learned that I have indeed developed gestational diabetes. Don't ask me how.. I'm so bummed. I made an extra effort to stay fit and eat healthy but I guess it doesn't really matter when you are pregnant.. your body does it what it wants.

The good news is that my numbers were very borderline so I do NOT have to prick my finger four times a day (which I feared) but only get my blood tested at my remaining dr. appointments and I have to follow a strict diet of more protein and no sugary crap like twizzlers and icecream (bummer!!) I'll survive :-)

I am a bit worried though that my baby is going to be very large. I was 9 lbs 14 oz when I was born and I'm not wishing for a child of THAT size. My main goal is to deliver naturally (no drugs!!) and this new diagnosis buts me at a higher risk for a c-section. I'm hoping if I stop eating the sweets now, I'll be able to deliver a normal sized healthy baby!!

May 24, 2007

:-(

Three hours of blood tests. I can't believe I actually survived it. I hope to never go through that again. Now I just have to wait for the results.

Baby is very very active lately. Entertainment for the night usually involves watching my tummy moving up and down and back and forth. I swear he is trying to push his way out :)

If you haven't already seen the latest ultrasound picture I posted, check it out! I think he looks like Steve!!

May 21, 2007

I had an appointment today to check my blood glucose levels (to check for gestational diabetes). It involved drinking this super sweet orange stuff and then waiting an hour, followed by a blood test. Of course my most dreaded fear ever... the blood test. I used the new breathing techniques I learned in my hypnobirthing book and I am happy to report that I did AWESOME! I was so proud of myself. I don't even think I squeezed Steve's hand :-)

We also found out that our little monster turned around so he is no longer breech. Yay! No wonder I feel so much pressure on my bladder now.

And for the not so good news... my levels came back "borderline" so now I have to go for some 3 hour fasting lots of needles, etc test on Thursday. Wish me luck.. I'm freaking out. :-(

May 1, 2007

At my 27 week doctor appointment today we found out that our little baby is breech. Not to worry, Dr. B says he'll probably spin around in the next few weeks. I guess that explains why I keep feeling little taps on my bladder all day. We got another 3D ultrasound and although we don't have any really good pictures (he kept hiding his face with his chubby hands)... it's very clear he's put on a lot of pudge since 20 weeks. heh heh.. maybe he will end up looking like my baby pictures after all. He is VERY active. Steve and I spent the other night watching him twist around inside my tummy. It reminded us of the movie Aliens. It wasn't his normal "pokes" and "jabs" we see protruding from my belly, but full body turns. It feels so wierd, but neat.

April 15, 2007

Our son is due to arrive sometime in the end of July or early August. Steve's guess in on August 2. I'm feeling he'll be here a little later.. maybe August 7? Things have been fairly smooth so far. The first 3 months were rough. The next three were pretty close to perfect. I'm just about 6 months along now and I'm quite enjoying this stage. The little alien is very active, even keeping me up last night for a while. Most of the time it makes me laugh because he seems to respond to my voice. We got him a few books and I've been reading a very lame one called "Mister Dog." I'm pretty sure Steve's sick of hearing it over and over again ;-) We actually wrote a book for him and I really need to go ahead and get it printed so I can start reading that instead.

Let's see.. what else... I've gained close to 20 lbs so far. I'm trying not to stress about it. Honestly, I don't feel like I've gained that much. I work out 6 days a week and keep active. I'm hoping this is going to speed me right through the whole labor ordeal.. heh heh.. yeh, right.

Besides my occasionally emotional breakdowns (sorry honey!) and my new love of Pizza (okay so maybe that's where the 20 lbs comes in...) I'm enjoying this ride and getting anxious for our kid to get here.